Lawrence



(No Model.)

L. H. ARMOUR.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENTOF SPOIL HEAPS 01" GOLLIEB'IES.

No. 285,945 Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

W TJVESSESI JNVENTOR:

(may f arr LAWRENCE ARMOUR, or GATESHEADONTYNE, 'con'nriton DURHAM,

' ENGLAND.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF SPOIL-HEAPS F COLLIERIES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,945, dated October 2, 1883. Application filed June 23, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England December 6, 1952, No. 5,810.

T0 aZZ whmn it may concern;

Heaps of Oollieries, whereby a part of the volatile products contained in them may be recovered and the nuisance arising from the combusti on may be diminished, this invention bei ng applicable also to the treatment of peat and other carbonaceous matters, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 5,810, dated December 6, 1882,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in the insertionof a tube or tubes, similar to those used for Artesian wells, or other perforated tubes, into the spoil-heaps of coal and other pits, either directly or through the ground below, and thence into the heap at as many points as may seem desirable, and by means of gentle exhaustion drawing thereby the gaseous products arising from the ignition of the heap, while for the greater production of these products in a pure state the heapshould be covered with turf or other close-compacted and inert matter, such as earth or the refuse froma previously-burned heap. By this means, at the same time, the nuisance arising from smoke and the escape of distilled matters is avoided or greatly diminished. The heap may be either fired at one end and theheat made to travel along the heap, if in an extended line, or it may be fired at the crown and the exhaustion be altogether downward. This is also applicable to heaps already on fire. The condensable products can be condensed in the usual way, and the fixed gases used either to augment the heat of the burning heap or in the manufacture of the residuals, or otherwise, as local circumstances determine.

This invention may be used in the treatment of waste-heaps at collieries, iron-stone mines, or other deposits of carbonaceous refuse or pyrites, or for the treatment of peat in sit a without the cost and delay of digging, drying, and placing in an oven, or for the treatment of heaps of waste cuttings, sawdust, and bark resulting from. deforesting operations.

Having thus described the nature of myinvention, I will proceed more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same. The figure in the accompanying drawing illustrates the application of my invention to the spoil-heap of a colliery, A being the upper ignited portion of the heap, B the portion which is in a partially-heated state, and D the lower cold and unignited portion. Into the portion B are inserted the series of perforated pipes E, all communicating with a main pipe, F, which is connected with a condensing and suction apparatus, G.

In the case of an ordinary spoil-heap, the circumstances of each case must regulate the question as to the best means of introducing the pipes. In many cases it is sufiicient to perforate the ends of wrought-iron steam or gas pipes, and introduce a pointed plug or cast-iron end, to facilitate penetration into the heap, and' at the same time to prevent the pipe filling up. These pipes E, I introduce at short intervals, dependent upon the depth of the heap, the activity of combustion, and other matters, and I try, by suction, the freedom of draft obtainable in each pipe, so as to get an approach to uniformity of suction, making further regulation by means of screw-down valves, which I can regulate in accordance with the heat of the pipes when working and the external appearance of the heap-namely, whether emitting smoke near the pi pc or otherwisethat is to say, I should reduce, by closing the valve, the draft of a pipe near to which there was an appearance of the heap drawing air, and I would increase, by opening the valve, the draft of a pipe near to which there was an emission of smoke; or I might at that part introduce a second pipe or a series of extra pipes. If, however, it were necessary, in order to maintain the combustion of the heap, to introduce a supply of air,'I should do it by increased suction. I from time to time further sink the pipes or remove them to new situations, as the exigencies of the case may re quire. I also, in order to avoid drawing use less gas, apply a test-suction apparatus from time to time to the various pipes, in order to discover the value of the products arising from or such part of the heap as may be under exhaustion, with a layer of sand, earth, or illcombustible refuse, so as to make a more or less impervious layer and to confine the fume. If the heap be large, I may tunnel underneath and insert the pipes below, or build a conduit and draw through it the fumes arising from. combustion; or I may construct conduits, or'

insert pipes at the sides or bottom, the object f being in each case to withdraw the fume, so as g to protect it from the action of atmospheric.

air, which would decompose the products if mixed in a heated state, or dilute and injure 1 the quality of the gas if mixed in a cold state. f

I prefer to withdraw the fume, so as that the i gas evolved will burn with a good flame; but j there may be circumstances in which this is? impossible. If fiame be obtained, it may be? conveniently used for obtaining motive power, and also to promote the combustion of any parts of the heap which may be slower in burning than other parts. The application of my'invention to the burn ing of peat or heaps of sawdust or other ma- 1 terial is quite analogous to the process already described for spoil-heaps. For a peat-bog I should deeply trench, if' possible, to the bot-' tom of the bog, so as to draw away water, and i to cut cut the bog into, for instance, parallelograms, each of which might be fired separately when sufficiently dry. I insert pipes near one edge, and without the line. of these pipes, and near to the edge, I fire the bog, and then apply suction, so as to direct the 1 passage of the evolved gases and vapors downward and backward toward the pipes, instead of upward and outward toward the air, as

they would naturally tend to go. I condense the condensable products, and may apply the gas for motive power, or to assist the action of the fire, or for any other purpose as may be desired. available, it. may be so directed, with a limited supply of air, against the burning face of the bog as to produce adequate heat to maintain the evolution of gas without the entire combustion of the peat charcoal produced, part of which may be by that means recovered.

It is manifest that when accumulations of colliery waste, or material which may be treated according to my invention, are going on, arrangements maybe made for the previous construction of perforated floors and conduits by which to effect exhaustion of mat ter laid thereon as they are produced.

Having thus described the nature of my process and the manner in which'the same is performed, I will explain what I consider novel and valuable and claim as my invention.

1. The mode herein described of treating the spoil-heaps of collieries, peat-bogs, and similar materials for the recovery of the volatile products therefrom, and for other purposes, said mode consisting in closing the surfaces of the heaps practically air-tight, and then withdrawing the gases arising from combustion by exhaustion and condensing the eX hausted gases, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the spoil --heaps of collieries, peat-bogs, and similar matters, and means for closing them practically air-tight, with perforated pipes in said heaps, main suction-pipe, and suction and condensing apparatus, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub.- scribing witnesses.

LAWVRENGE I-IILL ARMOUR.

\Vitnesses:

OHAs. MrLLs, CHAS. JAS. J ONES, Both of 47 L incoins I nn Fields, London.

If an abundant supply of gas be 

